System for electrical distribution.



No. 853,888. PATENTED MAY I4, 1907.

E R. C. LEAKE. SYSTEM EUR ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.6. 1905.

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APPLICATION FILED 0GT.6. 1905.

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RICHARD C. LEAKE, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DWIGHT J. STRICKLAND, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

SYSTEM FOR EITECTRICAL `DISTRIBUTION.

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Be it, known that l, Rrcnann O. LEAKE, of Auburn` in thc county of Cayuga, in the State oll New York, have invented new and uscl'ul llnprovements in Systems for Electrical ,l)istrilmtion, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

'lhis invention relates to` improvements in electrical distributing systems and involves one or more electrical transmission devices at one or more. local or sending stations and a plurality of electrically operated devices at one or more remote or distantreceiving stations, each electrically connected in a separate circuit receiving current from the same or dilferent source of electric energy, and all of which are controlled individually or successively by one of the transmission devices at the sending station. These several devices at the receiving station may be substantial duplicates of each other or may differ in` their function in performing the same or dill'erent work, but each separate Working circuit at the receiving station includes a coil or winding or some equivalent electrical ap- )liance capable of operating some mechanical or electro mechanical apparatus, such as a signal, annuneiator, counter or similar mechanism, or it may be used in telegraphy, telephony and allied systems, as for instance, for opening and closing the several circuits of an automatic telephone exchange, and for many other purposes which cannot now be enumerated.

It may be stated here that the invention resides more particularly in the means for making and breaking any number of distant circuits, individually or successively, so that cach circuit may be made to .perform somev individual Work which may or may not be associated with the work performed by `the energizing of the other circuits, and it is, therefore, quite immaterial what kind of a mechanism is brought into action by the enzing of either of the circuits.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to minimize the number of line conductors employed. in thc system from the sending to the receiving stations so that the energizing of the entire series of distant circuits at the receiving station or stations may be controlled from the sending station over Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led October 6,1905. Serial No. 281,711, E

Patented May 14, 1907.

a two-conductor system, one of Whi main feed Wire, and the other the return wire or ground, as may be desired.

In some instances, it may be necessary to make and break one or more of the distant Working circuits a number of times to effect the repeating of a certain mechanical operation, and then to shift or change from this circuit to another circuit, and in order to accomplish thisI have introduced into the system, preferably at the receiving station, an automatic circuit changing device which is controlled. by the sender at the transmitting station, and by which I am enabled to successively close the several Working circuits at the receiving station, and to simultaneously break the previously energized Working circuit. i i

The energizing of each individual Working circuit at the receiving station is effected by one or more comparatively quick current impulses corresponding Vto the dots of the Morse7 telegraph system, While the circuit changing device is brought into action by a' prolonged closing of the circuit at the sending station, corresponding to the dash of said Morse telegraph system, and in order that the circuit changing device may not be brought. into complete action to change from one working circuit to another at the receiving station during such quick current impulses, I associate with the electro mechanical circuit-changer a retarding infinence which may be ofV any suitable construction capable of retarding the action of the circuit changer under quick current impulses but still having the ability to yield under a prolonged closing of the circuit at the sending station to move the circuit changer one point or step.

The general object,therefore, of the invention is to render it practicable to open and close a plurality of distant electric circuits individually or successively over a minimum number of line conductors leading from the sending to the receiving instruments by means of varying periods of duration, as "pauses or holds between current pulsations;

Other more specific objects and uses Will be brought out in the following'desoription.

In the draWings-Figure l 1s a diagrammatic view of an electrical distributing system embodying the various features of my IOO invention. Fig. 2 is a face View of the detached electro-mechanical circuit-changing device including the means for retarding its action under quick current impulses. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation of one of theelectrically operatedl counters at the receivingv station seen in Fig. 1; showing also the means for restoring said counter to its normal starting position. Fig. is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the electrical distributing system seen in Fig. 1, showing a modified forni of retarding mechanism for preventingthe action of the circuit'changing device under quick current impulses, and eflecting suchaction by a prolonged closing of the circuit through the sending instrument at the transmission station. Fig. 6 is a still. further modified'form oi retarding device adapted to be substituted for'that shown in Fig. 1, and by'which the circuit changer is caused to act by a long pause intervening between the intermitting current impulses.

In order to clearly demonstrate the praeticability of my invention, I have shown in Fig. 1, somewhat diagrammatically, an electrical distributing system, including a transmission station A and a distant receiving station B which stations are connected by a minimum number of line conductors, 'consisting in this instance, of a main feed wire 1 a return conductor. 2 which may be either a wire or ground, such conductors constituting the m-ain line circuit receiving current from a source of electric energy, asa battery 3 in which is connected at the transmission station, a. suitable electric switch 4 whereby current impulses may be transmitted over the line conductors to the receiving station.

At the receiving station, I have shown a plurality of, in this instance three, electro magnets, 5 6 and 7 each having its winding connected in a separate circuit, but for the purpose of simplifying the drawing, I have shown all of these circuits as capable of deriving current from the same source of electric energy, as the battery 3 of the main line circuit. Each ofl these electro magnets 5 6 and 7 are adapted to perform certain work which may be similar or entirely diiferent, one from the other,.and while I have shown a series of similarmeclianical counting devices, 5, 6 and 7 each adapted to be brought into action by its particular electro magnet, 5, 6 or 7, I do not wish to limit my invention to its association with 'any particular form of device which may be brought into action by the energizing of each individual working circuit in which the electro magnets 5, 6 and 7 are connected,'for it will be clearly obvious from the following description that the electro magnets 5 6 and 7 may be substituted by solenoids or other 7 are connected res electrically operated instruments and I have only shown these electro magnets 5 6 and 7 and the counters 5, 6 and 7 as a means for clearly demonstrating the practicability and operationo my invention.

The important part of my invention, as associated with the several distinct circuits at the receiving station, consists in providing. the receiving station with a suitable circuit changer, such asia multi-pole switch, which is -only brought into action by the prolonged closing of the circuit at the sending station through the medium of the switch 4 and an electro magnet Q having its winding connected in the main line circuit, the action of the circuit changer being prevented by some retarding influence, as a dash-pot Q having a piston 10 which is connected to the armature, as 11 of the electro magnet 8 One end of each ofthe windings 5, 6 and 7 is electrically connected by wires 12 13 and 14 respectively to the main Jfeed wire 1 of the line circuit 1 and 2 and the other ends of each of said windings of the magnets 5 6 and ectively by wires 12,', 13 and 14 to meta contact terminals 15 16 and 17 respectively. These latter terminals or pole-pieces 15, 16- and 1'7 preferably consists of circular metal segments arranged about a common axis and insulated at their ends, one from the other, either by insulating'material, or by an air gap. An additional contact terminal 18 is mounted to rotate about said axis to contact successively with the segmental terminals 15 16 and 17 and is actuated step-by-step from .one segmental terminal to another by the armature 11 through the medium of a pawl 1 Q ratchet 20- and a connecting link 21- coniiecting the free end of the armature 11 to a swinging lever 22 upon which the pawl 19 l is mounted, said armature being held away from the adjacent pole of the electro magnet 8 by means of a spring 23 The contact arm 18 is electrically connected by a wire 24 to the saine source of electric energy, as the battery 3 in which thewindings of the electro magnets -5, 6 and 7 are connected, and it, therefore, follows that when the contact arm 18 is moved into contact with the segment 16- the circuit through the electro magnet ---6 is closed by breaking the circuit through the electro magnet 5 and in like manner as the arm 18 is shifted from the segment 16 to the segment 17 the circuit through the electro magnet 7 will be closed, and that through the electro magnet 6-- will be simultaneously broken. As previously stated, this movementof the IIO contact arm -18- successively into contact with the segments -l-, 16 and ll7 is ell'eeted through the prolonged energizing of the electro magnet -8-, but is prevented from operation during quick current impulses, as will be presently described more in detail.

The counters -5-, 6- and 7'` each consists of a rotary disk, each having a normal starting point or space and a series of successively arranged numerals, numbering from O to 9 inclusive so that the starting point or s iace and consecutive numerals are successive y brought into registration with a suitable sight opening of a supporting case or frame 2G- Any suitable means may be employed for rotating cach disk step-by-stcp so as to bring the numerals successively into registration with their respective openings L25-, and I have shown the operating means for each disk as consisting essentially of a swinging armature $27- carrying a pawl -28-, which latter, engages and rotates a ratchet-wheel -29- to which one of the counter-disks is secured, each of the electro magnets -5-, --6- and --7- having associated therewith one of the armatures 27'- whereby each successive energizing of one of the electro magnets attracts its armature 27d and rotates its counter-disk one step or space from its normal or starting position, each armature being returned to its normal position by a suitable spring -30-. ln the counting device shown, it is necessary' to restore each counting disk to its normal or starting position, and for this purpose 1 associate with each disk or counter a second electro magnet S2- and an armature --33-, which, when attracted by its armature engages and lifts the pawl -28- out of engagement with its ratchet-wheel --29-, the electro magnet --32- being connected in a local circuit which derives current from a battery as and is provided with a switch -31-, under thc control of a locall attendant at the receiving station so that by closing the circuit through the magnet 532- and thereby lifting the pawl -28- to release the counterdisk, the latter is returned to its normal position by any suitable means, as a counterweight -35-, best vseen in Fig. 4. By means of these counters, any number or combination of numbers from 0 to 999 may be registered, but it is clearly apparent that the counters may be used in other relations, and that the number of counters and combinations of numbers which may be registered are practically unlimited so far as theory or principle ofthe device is concerned.

rlhe dash-pot 9- is shown as provided in its bottom with a valve 4U- opening inwardly to admit air beneath the piston -]0-, and this piston is provided with a comparatively small bleed-hole --41-, the

dash-l ot being open to atmosphere above the piston so that the upward movement of said piston is practically -unobstructed` or unretarded by reason of the opening --40i to equalize the pressure at both ends of the piston, while on the otherrhand any tendency to attract or draw the armature -]1- downwardly, as by the current impulses passed through the electro magnet -8-., would be opposed by the .air pressure beneath the piston -10- caused by the automatic closing of the valve --40-. It, therelorc, follows that by providing a comparatively small bleed-hole 4lin the piston, a prolonged closing of the circuit at the transmission station -A-a by the switch lt which exerts a magnetic pull upon the armature -l,]-, would allow the -air to gradually escape through the bleed-hole 4l-, thus )ermitting the armature to be drawn to the limit of its inward movement, thereby moving the pawl -19- into position to engage the next tooth of the ratchet-wheel -20- so that when the switch -4- is open, thereby dex-energizing the electro magnet -8w, the spring 23- returns the armature to its normal position, .and thus rotates the ratchetwheel *20- one tooth space and advances the contact arm F18v one segmental space, or from the segment l5- into contact with the segment -l6-- In like manner, the arm -18- is advanced from contact with one segment to electrical contact with lthe next adjacent segment until returned to its starting position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modiiication of the retarding device seen in Figs. l and 2 in which a piston 10 is movable in a dash-pot 9, but is retarded in its upward movement, or on the return of the armature -11-, instead of during its movement toward the adjacent pole of the magnet -8--. In this latter retarding device, the piston is provided with a comparatively small bleed-hole 41'- and a larger vertical passage which is normally closed by a valve 40, the bottom of the dash-pot -9- being closed and the valve 40 is adapted to open upwardly to allow the armature -11-, which is connected to the piston 10- by a rod 21 to descend readily under the magnetic iniluence of the electro magnet -8--, but is retarded in its return movement, which is'eilected by the spring -23-. This arrangement of the dash-pot 9 and piston 10 causes the armature to be drawn downwardly where it remains during the short impulses transmitted over the line wires 1V- and +2- and slowly returns to its normal position under the action of the spring 23 under a comparatively long pause or interval between the current pulsations through the electro magnet --8, thereby effecting the shift or changel of contact of the arm -18- from one segment, as from 15 to 16-.

IOO

IIO

The essential difference in principle between the device shown in Fig. 6, and tha`t shown in Figs. 1' and 2 is that in the latter, the change of circuit at the receiving station is effected during a pause, or comparatively long interruption between the current pulsations rather' than by the prolonged closing of the circuit, as in the device shown in Figs: 1 and 2.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a still further modified retarding device in which the electro magnet 8 is connected in a separate circuit 1 and 2 with an electric switch 45 one ofthe members of the switch being mounted upon a weighted lever 46, which is fulcrumed at 47 and is provided with a weight 48 ,y whereby the switch, 45 is normally held open. Directly above the switch-lever 46 is a vertically rocking tube 50 which is centrally pivoted V,at 51 and contains a rolling member, as a ball 52 One end of this tube, at one side of its pivot 51 lies directly over the switch end of the lever 46 and its lower side is slotted lengthwise, but of less width than the diameter of the ball 52 to perlmit said ball to ride along the slot within the tube and to project slightly therethrough when thisend of the tube is tilted to contact with the switch end of the lever 46 the slot, as 53 serving to receive the adjacent end of the lever 46 and the weight of the ball lriding upon this lever operating to close the switch 45- against the action of the counter-weight 48 The opposite end of the tube 4 50 is weighted sufficiently to counter balance the weight of the ball when in the slotted end of the tube, and when no other influence is brought to bear upon the action of the tube 50 its slotted end is tilted upwardly to allow the switch 45 to open and break the circuit 1 and 2 through the electro magnet 8 thereby causing the ball 52 to roll down the inclined tube from the slotted end into theextreme weighted end, or to 'the opposite side of the pivot 51. In this modification shown in Fig. 5, I provide an auxiliary electro-magnet having its windin connected in the main line circuit 1 and 2 so that any current impulses caused by the closing of the switch 4 at the sending station energizes the electro magnet 60- and tends to attract the weighted end of the tube 50 which constitutes an armature for said electro ma net. Under such quick current impulses, owever, the weighted end of the tubular armature 50 is rocked from the point below to a point above a horizontal plane drawn through the swinging axis of the tube, and the inertia of the ball 52 together with the centrifugal force acting upon it'during such impulsive action of the tube tends to keep the ball in the weighted end of said tube, but upon a turn, operates the armature, 11 and con.

tact arm 18- to change the circuit by shifting said arm from one segment, as 15 to the next segment, as 16 As soon as the switch 4 is again opened, the magnet 60 v is de-energized and allows the tubular armature 5() to rock in the o posite direction by its own gravity, thus a lowing the switch 45 to be opened by the vweighted lever 46 In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 suppose it is desired to cause the disks 5, 6 and 7 to indicate the number 7 89 then by closing the switch 4 eight times in quick succession, will produce eight current impulses through the electro magnet 5 thereby moving the counter-disk 5 step-by-step from its starting point until the numeral 7 is brought into registration with, the opening 25 corresponding to the disk 5. When the circuit is closed for the eighth time, it is held closed for a sufiicient `period to allow the armature 11 to be drawn downwardly the limit of its downward movement against the action of the spring 23 thereby retracting the pawl 19- one tooth space around the ratchetwheel 20 so as to engage the next adjacent tooth, and when the circuit is broken at the sending station by the opening of the switch 4 the spring 23 will return the armature 11 to its normal position, thereby actuating the pawl 19 and its ratchet-wheel 20 forwardly one toothsnace to shift the contact arm 18 from the terminal segment 15 to the next terminal segment 16 By this operation, the circuit is broken through the electromagnet 5 and is established through the electromagnet 6 Now, by repeating the closing of the circuit in quick succession nine times, through the medium of the switch 4 and prolonging the last contact ofthe switch, the counter 6 will be advanced step-by-ste'o from its starting position until the numeral 8 is brought into registration with its opening 25 and the contact arm 18-- will then be advanced from contact with the segment 16 into contact with the segment 17 thereby breaking the circuit through the electro magnet 6 and closing another circuit through the electro magnet 7 Now,- by .again repeating the operation ofthe switch lt ten times in quickV succession, and prolonging the last IIO closing of the' circuit by said switch, the counter 7 is advanced step-by-step until the numeral 9- is brought into registration with its opening -25'-, at Which time, the contact arm -l8- is moved from the segment --17- to the first or starting position in contact with the segment 15-, which breaks the circuit through the electromagnet 7- and again closes it through the first named electromagnet -5 ready for a repetition of the operation just described, it being understood, of course, that each counter 6'- and 7 is provided with the same operating meansl and restoring mechanism as that described for the counter -5-, and that each of said counters is restoredrto its-starting position by a counter-weight, as -85-, after each pawl -28- has been released from engagement with its ratchet-wheel 29 in the manner previously described.

What I claim:

l. In a system of'electrical distribution, a plurality of electric working circuits, electrically controlled means for closing each of said circuits separately, an electric circuit closer'controlling the action of said means, and additional means to retard the action of the first named means under comparatively short current impulses, and to permit its action under prolonged closing of the circuit.

2. In a system of electrical distribution, a plurality of electric working circuits, each deriving current from a single line conductor, a circuit changing switch common to said circuits in circuit with said line conductor, electrically controlled means vfor actuating the circuit changing switch, and additional means for retarding the movement of the switch actuating means in one direction under comparatively short current pulsations through said electrically controlled means, but adapted to permit such action under prolonged 'closing ofthe circuit.

3.v In a system of electrical distribution, a line conductor, and a plurality of electric working circuits, each connected to said conductor, a circuit changing switch common to all the circuits, a circuit closer and an electromagnet both in the main-line circuit, means controlled by said magnet for controlling the operation of the circuit changer, and a y retarding device for the circuitchanger actuating means, whereby said actuating means is brought into action only by the prolonged closing of the circuit through the electromagnet.

4. In a system of electrical distribution, a main line circuit comprising a main Jfeed wire and return conductors, including therein a sending station and a receiving station, a plurality of circuit closers connected in the main circuit at the sending station, a plurality of electric working circuits at the receiving station, a circuit changing switch `for opening one of the working circuits and closing another, the closed'working circuit bein ener ized by the current impulses produced by t e circuit closers at the sending station of the main circuit, and means brought into action by the prolonged closing ofthe circuit at the sending station for actuating the circuit-changing switch. 1

5.. In a system of electrical distribution, a main line circuit including `a sending and a recelving station, comprising a single main feed wire d returnl conductor, a circuit -closer in the main line circuit at the sending station, a series ,of electric working circuits deriving current vfrom the` main line circuit, a series of electrically operated devices at the receiving station," one for each o said circuits, electric means in each of the circuits for operating one of said devices, a circuit` changing switch common to all of said working circuits, an electro magnet in the main line circuit energized bythe closing of the circuit closer, an armature for said` electro magnet, means controlled' by the armature for controlling the operation of the circuit changer, additional means for preventing the operation of the circuit changer under quick impulses 'produced by .the circuit closer in the main line circuit, whereby the device corresponding to the closed working circuit at the receiving station is operated, said means for preventing the action of the circuit'closer under quick current impulses through the electro magnet being actuated by the prolonged energizing oi the electro magnet to cause the operation of the circuit changing switch to change from one circuit to another.

l6. In a'system of electrical distribution, a plurality of electric working circuits, a multipole elect-ric switch having separate contact terminals, one for each circuit, electrically operated means in circuit with each of said working circuits for shifting the switch to close the working circuits successively, and means for retarding the action of said switch under short current impulses but allowing its operation under prolonged closing of the circuit.

7. In a system of electrical distribution, a plurality of' electric circuits, each including therein an electrc-magnet, a multi-pole switch and its operating electro-magnet, both Yelectrically connected in circuit with the first named electro-magnet, means for closing said circuits, and additional means for retarding the action cf the switch under short current impulses thereby energizing one of the first named electro-magnets with which the switch is electricallyconnected, said retarding means operating under prolonged closing of the circuit to break the circuit through one oi the first named electromagnets and close the circuit through a different one of said first named magnets, and a plurality of indicating devices, each ac-A IOO tuated b v one of the first named electro-niagnets when energized.

8. ln anl electrical distributing system, a plurality of electric working circuits, each including therein an electro-magnet, a plurality of mechanical devices, each actuated -by one of said magnets, a multi-pole switch for successively energizing said magnets, an. additional electro-magnet for o erating said switch, means for simultaneous y energizing the last named magnet and one "of the first named magnets which may bein electrical connectionwith the switch and additional means for preventingr the operation of the switch under short current impulses but allowing the operation of-said switch under prolonged closingof the circuit through the switch perating magnet.

9. In combination with a series of rotary mechanical elements and separate electrical operating devices therefor, whereby the latter are rotated step by step by successive closing of the circuit. through its operating device, means for releasing the rotary clements, separate devices for restoring the rotary elements to their starting positions. a multi-pole switch in. circuit with said electrical devices, an electro-magnet for operating the switch, meansfor' closing the circuit through said magnet and electrical device'which may be in electrical connection with the switch and means for retarding thc action of the switch under short current impulses through said magnet but permitting the operation of said switch under prolonged closing ofthe circuit through said magnet. I

10. In an electrical distributing system, a plurality of mechanical movements, and a corresponding number of electrical working circuits, each including therein an electromagnet for operating one of said mechanical movements step'by step at each energizing of its magnet, an electric switch having contact terminals in circuit with said magnets, a circuit closer for simultaneously closing the circuit through the last named magnet and one of the first named magnets which may be in electrical connection with the switch and connection with means controlled by the last named magnet for operating said switch under prolonged closing of the circuit but preventing the o eration of said switch under comparatively short current impulses therethrough.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of September, 1.905.

RICHARD C. LEAKE. Witnesses:

H. E. CHASE, MILDRED M. NoTT.

the switch and 

